Month: May 2017

MARITIME MATTERS MAY 2017

 

SULCVs

• As previously noticed, on May 16, 2017 a meeting of Port stakeholders was held in the NYSA-ILA training conference room to discuss operational parameters which may be required to accommodate the safe and efficient meeting handling of Super Ultra Large Container Vessels in the Port. The meeting was chaired/coordinated by the USCG.
• Discussions revolved around the documents previously circulated.
• Key elements of discussion involved the definition of SULCVs (beam over 159ft), visibility and wind parameters, the limitation of SULCV transits to 1 hour either side of a slack tide, the need to establish advance notice systems, meeting/passing restrictions, bunker barge operations, bow in/stern out operations, Port Jersey restrictions for passenger vessel and/or car carrier berthing, requirement for mid-ship crane placements, and boom-up requirements, limitation of max 2 bow/stern lines per bollard, requirement of 100 ft minimum spacing between berthed vessels alignment, etc.
• Discussions also included such economic topics as passage/vessel priority decisions, berthing restrictions, work stoppage requirements, etc, and who will be a possible governing party to resolve any potential dispute.
• USCG and all stakeholders agreed to carefully consider all comments.
• Further meetings will be convened as/when required.

 

NYCEDC

• Advised that the NYC Mayor’s Office will be announcing a Jobs Initiative Program intended to create 100,000 new jobs over the next 10 years.
• It is expected that transportation, including maritime-related industries will be a targeted segment due to the high percentage of living wage jobs with family sustaining benefits.
• The program will seek to help create jobs delivering incomes of $50K or higher, or jobs of at least $30k with career development potential.
• The program is intended to address income gaps, and high unemployment segments.
• The program will attempt to stimulate infrastructure development, and create public awareness of job opportunities.
• Further details will be announced shortly, and NYCEDC will work with the maritime industry.

 

2017 FLEET WEEK

• Have you noticed a lot of Sailors and Marines in town?
• Fleet Week began as a flotilla of Naval and USCG vessels sailed into NYC on May 24, 2017 as part of the opening of Fleet Week in NYC.
• Vessels have been open for public visits at various locations including the NYC Passenger terminal, SUNY Maritime, and the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point

 

USCG Foundation Golf Outing

• The annual USCG Foundation Scholarship golf outing was held at the Staten Island Golf Club on May 22, 2017, and although a bit “soggy” was enjoyed by all.
• This outing benefits the scholarship fund for deserving USCG families.
• If you missed the event this year, plan on attending next year for a fun outing supporting a great cause!

 

MARINE MAMMALS

• On April 25, 2017 a meeting was held at the Central Park Zoo offices of the Wildlife Conservation Society to discuss the present status of marine mammal conservation.
• The meeting involved various maritime stakeholders and concentrated on the whale community.
• Current procedures, and newly evolving detection/avoidance capabilities were discussed.

 

OIL/BULK TERMINALS

• Following the Harbor Ops Full Cttee meeting held on May 17, 2017, an Oil Terminal Roundtable meeting was held to discuss maters of importance to oil/bulk terminal facilities.
• The meeting was chaired by LT Miller, USCG, and discussed SULVC protocols and operating requirements, updates on bridge construction/demolition projects, and the condition and safety considerations of gangways.

 

DRONES and LASERS

• Incidents of dangerous encounters with drones, and lasers have been reported in the harbor.
• These dangerous occurrences will be discussed at the next Passenger Vessel Sub-Cttee and be forwarded to the Harbor Ops Steering ctte for further review.

 

USACE REPORTING

• All port stakeholders are reminded of the urgent need to make all necessary reports of domestic cargo and passengers to the USACE. These reports are vital components for consideration of USACE dredging and survey funds, and under, or non-reporting will result in the potential of underfunding for critical Port infrastructure work.

 

UPCOMING MARINE EVENTS

• On June 4, the World Ocean Festival will hold an OCEAN MARCH parade of boats. The parade will depart Pier 64 at noon, and terminate at Gantry Park on the East River at 1500hr. The parade is anticipated to include approximately 20 vessels proceeding at a speed of 6 knots. The largest expected vessel will be the JOHN HARVEY.
• On June 24 there will be an outrigger race off the New Jersey Shore.
• City of Water day will be held on July 15, and is expected to involve many human-powered vessels, and small boats.

 

MAPONY/NJ ACTIVITIES

• MAPONY/NJ participated in the April 18/19 Seattle meeting of the NOAA Hydrographic Services Review Panel, a Federal advisory committee to NOAA. Topics included charting initiatives, PORTS systems and funding, precision navigation projects, NOAA budgeting, surveying and NRT operations. It was a pleasure to see CAPT Linda Sturgis, a recent Sector NY officer who is the current Captain of the Port, Sector Puget Sound.
• Ambassador Phil Murphy, candidate for the Governor’s office of the State of NJ, joined the BoD of MAPONY/NJ following their business meeting of April 26 to discuss matters of concern to the commercial maritime industry in the NY/NJ Port.
• MAPONY/NJ’s       24^th Annual International Maritime Hall of Fame Gala was held on May 10, at the Grand Hyatt and was an enjoyable and successful evening.
• The next session of our award-winning SHIPPING 101 class is being held on the week of June 12-16. There are still some very limited seating opportunities open…get in touch if you or your staff would benefit from attending this great class!
• On May 18, Kevin Corbett, MAPONY/NJ President, Andrew Genn, MAPONY/NJ Director, and Ed Kelly, MAPONY/NJ Executive Director, joined the Working Harbor Cttee Harbor Tour as Narrators for the students of the Urban Assembly School of Global Commerce, and a private NJ HS to tour the harbor on a NY Waterway vessel mad possible by a generous grant from the marine Society of the City of NY. It was an excellent opportunity to explain the workings of the maritime industry in the Port

HARBOR HAPPENINGS MAY 2017

 

USCG

• CAPT Day confirmed that LTC Buck will be taking over control of the Waterways Management from CDR Jake Hobsen in June. A turnover period has commenced.
• Ellis Island proposal has received 124 comments in favor of, and 1 comment against allowing small craft to pass behind, and thereby avoid the need to transit in the main channel. It is expected that the USCG will move forward on this proposal with a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the near future. The notice would clarify such items as allowed vessel size/type, hours of clearance, etc.
• Subsequent to the recent PAWSA, and the NTSB report, USCG is now preparing a full study of ways to enhance recreational boating safety.
• Noted that a Stena vessel, STANDARD PERFORMANCE, broke loose from her moorings. USCG will do a full investigation.
• Noted that BOEM will conduct a hearing pertaining to potential Off Shore Wind Energy projects on June 15. USCG will advise further info.
• Noted that preliminary discussions regarding the annual MACY’S 4^th of July fireworks display have commenced. USCG will provide full report at the June steering Cttee meeting.
• Confirmed that as a result of the approx 37,000 gallon spill (including PCBs), there was an East River Safety Zone established on the East side of the river, and a Restricted Navigation Area (maintain steerage/no wake) on the west side of the river. Divers are still working to discover the source of the crack/leak.

 

NOAA

• NOAA reminded all parties that the comment period for the NOAA National Charting Plan would close on June 1, 2017, and urged any interested party to file comments by that date.

 

 

USACE

• Confirmed that maintenance dredging of Newark Bay would be scheduled for September 2017 through April 2018.
• Confirmed that annual maintenance dredging of Sandy Hook Channel would be done during the Fall of 2017.
• Confirmed that 6 of the 7 requested berthing permits for City Wide Ferry have been granted thus far. It is expected that an additional 4 landing permits will be sought for 2018, and by late May, or early June a Public Notice will be forthcoming.
• USACE is considering the potential to establish standards for lighting on mooring buoys. USACE will route a “draft” Public Notice through Harbor Ops for comment before publishing.
• Advised that the reported shoaling in front of the Bayonne Drydock appears to be in the non-Federal area between the channel and the drydock, and that the property lease should indicate the party that is responsible for remediation.
• Confirmed that the environmental testing for Ward’s Point is currently underway.

 

 

PANY/NJ

• Reported that 2017 maintenance dredging of berths at Maher/APMT/Global will commence in July
• Confirmed that the MOA between PANY/NJ and USACE to re-evaluate dredging requirements in the Port has been concluded. The project will examine such issues as additional/deeper anchorages, easing the Bergen Point turn, etc. The parties will establish the initial scope of the potential project, and will present to Harbor Ops Steering Cttee for comment/review.

 

TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE

• It is currently expected that traffic will shift to the new bridge by August 2017.
• All demolition is proceeding as scheduled with routine updates available on the HOMEPORT website.

 

GOETHALS BRIDGE

• Project remains on schedule with E/B traffic expected to be routed to new bridge on/about June 10, 2017.
• The project managers will produce monthly updates of all work.
• The old deck is expected to be removed in July
• When the main span of the old bridge is to be lowered in Mid-late August, 2017, it will be necessary to have a COMPLETE CLOSURE of the channel for a maximum of 36 hours. VTS will coordinate with all stakeholders to select the best week/day for the closure, and will give maximum advance notice. It is currently projected that the closure may occur during the week of August 21.
• It is currently projected that piers and footers will be removed in April 2018, that cofferdams will be installed in July 2018, and that construction cantilevers will be removed between Sept 2017 and March 2018.
• During cantilever dismantling, there may be work barges in the channel, but all barges are subject to “Move on Demand” with one hour notice.
• Old pier footings will be removed to a depth of -46ft.

 

NYCEDC

• Reported that the City Wide Ferry system is now operational to the Rockaways and expanded East River services.

 

CONRAIL Lehigh Valley Drawbridge

• CONRAIL manager met with the Harbor Ops Steering Cttee to review the possibility to require one hour notice to request the raising of the said bridge due to considerations of increased train traffic, and a need to improve communications. Discussion ensued and CONRAIL will evaluate all comments and seek to re-engage the Steering Cttee as necessary.